Rotatable shaft mounting



Aug. 1967 R. P. MCCLELLAND 3,333,908

ROTATABLE SHAFT MOUNTING Original Filed Aug. 15, 1963 INVENTOR. RICHARD P. H CLELLAND ATTO NEYS Unitcd States Patent ROTATABLE SHAFT MOUNTING Richard P. McClelland, Mount Upton, N.Y., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application Aug. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 301,844, now

Patent No. 3,283,189, dated Nov. 1, 1966. Divided and this application Apr. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 543,384

6 Claims. (Cl. 308-236) This is a division of my application, Ser. No. 301,844, filed Aug. 13, 1963, for Timer and Distributor for Ignition Systems and the Like, now Patent No. 3,283,189, dated Nov. 1, 1966.

This invention relates to ignition systems and more particularly to current distributing and timing apparatus for use in such systems.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus for generating electrical pulses in timed relation with means for distributing electrical energy to a plurality of ignition sparking plugs in sequence.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus of the above character which is of light-weight, simplified construction embodying a minimum number of parts which may be manufactured and assembled at low cost.

A further object is to provide novelly constructed timing apparatus for ignition systems and the like which embodies only rotating movable parts whereby a long, trouble-free operating life is assured.

Still another object is to provide a novel ignition timing and distributing device which may be readily and quickly assembled and disassembled for inspection and repair and embodies only parts of utmost simplicity.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly broken away and partly in section, illustrating one form of ignition timing and distributing apparatus embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a detail plan view of the timing or triggering wheel of the apparatus of FIG. 1, the view being taken in the plane of line 22 of FIG. 1.

A single embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, by way of example, in the form of a combination timer and distributor adapted for use in a breakerless ignition system for a 4 cylinder engine, which system may be of the type disclosed in Loudon et al. US. Patent No. 3,240,198, issued Mar. 15, 1966. As shown, the novel device of the invention comprises a housing preferably of a light-weight, non-magnetic metal, having a generally inverted cup-shaped upper portion 11 and a reduced cylindrical lower portion 12.

A simple cylindrical shaft 14 extends through casing 10 and is rotatably supported therein in a novel, simplified manner to facilitate rapid assembly for large-scale, low-cost production. Said shaft is journalled in the lower outer end of housing portion 12 by a plain or other suitable known type of bearing (not shown) and is supported adjacent the upper inner end of casing portion 12 by a combined roller and thrust bearing of any suitable known construction, illustrated as a simple ball bearing comprising an inner race 15 and an outer race 16. Said outer race has a close fit in a counterbore .17 of casing portion 12 and is simply secured in place by a plurality of circumferentially spaced washers 18 (only one being shown) held in overlapping relation therewith by self-tapping screws 19.

Before installation in casing 10, roller bearing 15, 16

3,333,908 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 is assembled on shaft 14 by means of a pair of split retaining rings 20 and 21 of suitable metal, such as steel, seated in spaced annular grooves 22 and 23. Rings 20 and 21 are preferably of square or rectangular section, and at least one of them may be made of a suitable spring metal of less thickness than the width of the groove in which it seats and curved to take up any tolerances and thereby hold the shaft firmly against axial movement relative to the bearing. The axial length of bearing race 15 may be, and preferably is, slightly in excess of the distance between grooves 22 and 23.

Removably mounted on the upper end of shaft 14, for rotation therewith in any manner well known to the art, is a distributor rotor or finger comprising an insulating block 24 and a metal contact plate 28 radially adjustable thereon to rotate in jump gap relation to a plurality of circumferentially arranged outlet terminals 25 mounted in an insulating cap 26. The latter may be removably held in position on casing 10 by a plurality of spring clips 27, only one being shown.

A spring contact 29 is mounted on and electrically con nected to contact 28, and the free end thereof resiliently engages a centrally disposed input terminal 40 in cover 26. Thus, in a known manner pulses of electrical energy may be periodically supplied through input terminal 40, spring contact 29, contact plate 28 and spaced outlet terminals 25 to the spark plugs of an engine in sequence.

The proper timing of the discharge pulses of energy for firing the spark plugs in an engine has heretofore been accomplished by employing a conventionally cam operated contact for periodically opening or closing a circuit at the moment a power or discharge pulse is desired. The apparatus of the present invention is novelly constructed and adapted for use in a system wherein the discharge or power pulses for firing the spark plugs are timed and released by triggering pulses of electrical energy. To this end, a novelly constructed triggering wheel 30 (FIG. 2) is mounted on shaft 14 between distributor finger 24 and bearing .15, 16 for cooperation with an electromagnetic generator or pickup coil unit 31. The latter may be of any suitable known type, and is preferably of the type disclosed in London US. patent application Ser. No. 301,826, filed Aug. 13, 1963, now Patent No. 3,252,024, for Electric Pulse Generating Means, and comprising a winding around a permanent magnet core with a pole shoe 32 in position for cooperation with triggering wheel 30. Pulse generator unit 31 comprises a cylindrical outer casing slidably received in a hollow boss 33 projecting radially from casing member 10 and held in assembled position by a ring nut 34. The clearance between pole piece 32 and vanes 39 of trigger wheel 30 may be adjusted with shims inserted between the outer end of boss 33 and a collar on unit 31.

Triggering wheel 30 is of novel simplified construction adapted for mass production at minimum cost. In the form shown, this wheel is made from a sheet metal stamping having a central opening in a hub portion 35 from which four pick-off arms 36 extend radially in circumferentially spaced locations. The hub portion around the central opening is drawn or pressed axially to form an annular axially extending flange 37 to provide ample bearing surface for the wheel on shaft 14. A pin 38 may be used to secure wheel 30 to shaft 14. In order that the pick-off arms or blades will be relatively thin in the direction of rotary movement thereof for desirable cooperation with the magnetic field in the region of pole shoe 32, the outer end portions 39 of ,radial arms 36 are twisted through The blades or vanes 36, 39' and in particular the twisted sections provide a fan blade effect which aerates the space within housing 10, 26.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may be made, such as in the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated as well as in the materials suggested, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft, means for mounting said shaft in the casing comprising a roller bearing, a plurality of washers each secured by a screw to said casing in overlapped relation with the outer race of said bearing to secure the latter in said casing, and two split rings seated in axially spaced annular grooves in said shaft for positioning the inner race of said bearing on the shaft, whereby said shaft is rotatably supported against appreciable axial movement relative to the casing.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rings is made of spring metal and exerts a resilient force on the end of said inner race.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said one ring is made of sheet metal and curved, the same being interposed under axial compression between said end of the inner race and the oppositely facing radial wall of the groove in which it is seated.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said rings is made of resilient material and axially yieldably to exert an axial compressive force on said inner race.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a metallic casing having a bore, a shaft rotatable in said bore, a roller bearing surrounding the shaft in an enlarged portion of said bore, a pair of split rings straddling the inner race of said bearing and having the radially inner marginal portions thereof seated in spaced annular grooves in said shaft to secure said inner race against axial movement relative to the shaft, and means for securing the outer race of said bearing in said enlarged bore portion comprising a plurality of sheet metal washers in overlapping relation therewith and a self-tapping screw extending through each washer into a recess in the casing at an appreciable radial distance away from said enlarged bore portion to avoid deformation of the wall of the bore by said screws.

6. Appanatus of the class described comprising a casing having a bore, a shaft extending through said bore, bearing means for supporting said shaft in the bore comprising a roller thrust bearing having inner and outer races, a plurality of washers each secured by a screw to said casing in overlapped relation with the outer race of said bearing to secure the latter in said casing, and two split rings straddling said inner race and extending into spaced annular grooves in said shaft, at least one of said grooves being wider than the thickness of the split ring seated therein and the latter being cupped and made of spring metal, said washers and said split rings being corelated with said bearings to secure said shaft against axial movement while permitting rotation thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,632 10/1960 Forbush et al. 307-l89 FOREIGN PATENTS 894,743 5/ 1959 Great Britain.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

FRANK SUSKO, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A CASING, A ROTATABLE SHAFT, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SHAFT IN THE CASING COMPRISING A ROLLER BEARING, A PLURALITY OF WASHERS EACH SECURED BY A SCREW TO SAID CASING IN OVERLAPPED RELATION WITH THE OUTER RACE OF SAID BEARING TO SECURE THE LATTER IN SAID CASING, AND TWO SPLIT RINGS SEATED IN AXIALLY SPACED ANNULAR GROOVES IN SAID SHAFT FOR POSITIONING THE INNER RACE OF SAID BEARING ON THE SHAFT, WHEREBY SAID SHAFT 